Play gym with character canopy

Abstract

A play gym for a child, comprising a mat, a toy bar and a canopy, wherein one or more of the mat, the toy bar and the canopy are configured to resemble a character such as an aquatic ray. In example forms, the canopy includes a flexible structural support hoop and a fabric portion having a periphery attached to the flexible structural support hoop, and the fabric portion is retained at least partially in tension on the flexible structural support hoop so that the canopy forms a substantially self-supporting structural assembly when held at two spaced points along a head-to-tail axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A children's play gym comprising:
 a play mat for resting on a support surface, and defining a play area for receiving a child thereon;   a toy bar having a first end secured at or adjacent a first portion of the play mat, a second end secured at or adjacent a second portion of the play mat generally opposite the play area from the first portion, and a medial portion between the first end and the second end forming an arched support extending over the play area; and   a canopy configured to be positioned over at least a portion of the play mat, the canopy defining a head end and a tail end, wherein the tail end of the canopy attaches to the back of the play mat, and wherein an upper portion of the canopy attaches to the arched support of the toy bar.   
     
     
         2 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the character further comprises at least one character feature presenting the appearance of a creature. 
     
     
         3 . The children's play gym of  claim 2 , wherein the creature is a natural or fanciful animal. 
     
     
         4 . The children's play gym of  claim 3 , wherein the natural or fanciful animal is an aquatic animal. 
     
     
         5 . The children's play gym of  claim 4 , wherein the aquatic animal is a ray. 
     
     
         6 . The children's play gym of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one aquatic-themed entertainment feature. 
     
     
         7 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one surface entertainment feature on the play mat. 
     
     
         8 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one hanging entertainment feature suspended from the toy bar. 
     
     
         9 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one lighted entertainment feature on the canopy. 
     
     
         10 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the attachments between the canopy and the play mat and between the canopy and the toy bar are detachable and re-attachable, allowing the canopy to be used in a first mode of use with the play mat and toy bar, and also to be used in a second mode of use independent of the play mat and toy bar. 
     
     
         11 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the canopy comprises a flexible structural support hoop, and a fabric portion having a periphery attached to the flexible structural support hoop. 
     
     
         12 . The children's play gym of  claim 11 , wherein the fabric portion is retained at least partially in tension on the flexible structural support hoop, whereby the canopy forms a substantially self-supporting structural assembly when held at two spaced points along a head-to-tail axis. 
     
     
         13 . The children's play gym of  claim 12 , wherein the canopy forms a three-dimensional body defining a multi-axial arcuate curvature with a central portion of the canopy along the head-to-tail axis curving downward at the head and tail ends and curving arcuately upward relative to the head and tail ends along a medial portion between the head and tail ends, and with exterior wing portions curving upwardly from both sides of the central portion of the canopy along a transverse wing-to-wing axis generally perpendicular to the head-to-tail axis. 
     
     
         14 . The children's play gym of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible structural support hoop is configured to be twisted and folded upon itself into a compact configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the play mat further comprises a generally upright wall extending at least partially around the play area. 
     
     
         16 . The children's play gym of  claim 1 , further comprising detachable couplings between the first and second ends of the toy bar and the play mat. 
     
     
         17 . A canopy for a children's play gym, the canopy comprising a head end, a tail end, a first detachable coupling configured to attach the tail end of the canopy to a play mat, and a second detachable coupling configured to attach to a toy bar, the canopy further comprising at least one character feature presenting the appearance of a creature selected from a natural animal creature, a fanciful animal creature, an aquatic creature, a batoid, and a ray. 
     
     
         18 . The canopy of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one lighted entertainment feature embedded in the canopy. 
     
     
         19 . The canopy of  claim 17 , wherein the canopy further comprises a flexible structural support hoop, and a fabric portion having a periphery attached to the flexible structural support hoop. 
     
     
         20 . The canopy of  claim 19 , wherein the fabric portion at least partially comprises a mesh material which is at least partially transparent, allowing visibility therethrough. 
     
     
         21 . The canopy of  claim 19 , wherein the fabric portion is retained at least partially in tension on the flexible structural support hoop, whereby the canopy forms a substantially self-supporting structural assembly when held at two spaced points along a head-to-tail axis. 
     
     
         22 . The canopy of  claim 21 , wherein the canopy forms a three-dimensional body defining a multi-axial arcuate curvature with a central portion of the canopy along the head-to-tail axis curving downward at the head and tail ends and curving arcuately upward relative to the head and tail ends along a medial portion between the head and tail ends, and with exterior wing portions curving upwardly from both sides of the central portion of the canopy along a transverse wing-to-wing axis generally perpendicular to the head-to-tail axis. 
     
     
         23 . The canopy of  claim 19 , wherein the flexible structural support hoop is configured to be twisted and folded upon itself into a compact configuration. 
     
     
         24 . A canopy for a children's play gym, the canopy comprising a head end, a tail end, a flexible structural support hoop, and a fabric portion having a periphery attached to the flexible structural support hoop, wherein the fabric portion is retained at least partially in tension on the flexible structural support hoop, whereby the canopy forms a substantially self-supporting structural assembly when held at two spaced points along a head-to-tail axis. 
     
     
         25 . The canopy of  claim 24 , wherein the canopy forms a three-dimensional body defining a multi-axial arcuate curvature with a central portion of the canopy along the head-to-tail axis curving downward at the head and tail ends and curving arcuately upward relative to the head and tail ends along a medial portion between the head and tail ends, and with exterior wing portions curving upwardly from both sides of the central portion of the canopy along a transverse wing-to-wing axis generally perpendicular to the head-to-tail axis. 
     
     
         26 . The canopy of  claim 24 , wherein the flexible structural support hoop is configured to be twisted and folded upon itself into a compact configuration. 
     
     
         27 . The canopy of  claim 24 , wherein the fabric portion at least partially comprises a mesh material which is at least partially transparent, allowing visibility therethrough. 
     
     
         28 . The canopy of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one lighted entertainment feature embedded in the canopy. 
     
     
         29 . A children's play gym comprising:
 a play mat for resting on a support surface, and defining a play area for receiving a child thereon, the play mat having a front, a back, a first side and a second side, with the play area defined between the front and the back and between the first and second sides;   a toy bar having a first end secured at or adjacent a first portion of the play mat, a second end secured at or adjacent a second portion of the play mat generally opposite the first portion, and a medial portion between the first end and the second end forming an arched support extending over the play area; and   a canopy configured to be positioned over at least a portion of the play mat, the canopy comprising at least one character feature presenting the appearance of an aquatic ray.   
     
     
         30 . A children's play gym comprising:
 a play mat for resting on a support surface, and defining a play area for receiving a child thereon, the play mat having a front, a back, a first side and a second side, with the play area defined between the front and the back and between the first and second sides;   a toy bar having a first end connected to the play mat along the first side, a second end connected to the play mat along the second side, and a medial portion between the first end and the second end forming an arched support extending over the play area; and   a canopy configured to be positioned over at least a portion of the play mat, the canopy comprising a head end, a tail end, a flexible structural support hoop, and a fabric portion having a periphery attached to the flexible structural support hoop, wherein the fabric portion is retained at least partially in tension on the flexible structural support hoop, whereby the canopy forms a substantially self-supporting structural assembly when held at two spaced points along a head-to-tail axis.